Hello, Windy City

The Midwest's largest city can overwhelm with its array of activities and sights. So to get you started, we've compiled a list of must-see attractions--some quirky, some iconic--based on Midwest Living's travel editors' experiences. The list is arranged by interest; whether you are a sports fan, art aficionado or history buff, you'll find plenty to love about Chicago.

Get your bearings

Being in the country's third largest city (population: 2,718,782) means you have a lot of territory to wrap your brain around. Start by taking time to get an overview. Choose a tour that caters to your interest.

Ride the "L" A ride on the "L" is a classic way to experience Chicago. The transit authority also has a downloadable map that lists points of interest downtown. transitchicago.com

Chicago Greeters Volunteers lead free two- to four-hour neighborhood walking tours. Choose from more than 25 neighborhoods and 40 interests, including fashion, film, ethnic and public art. chicagogreeter.com

Bobby's Bike Hike Offers guided bike tours of neighborhoods, a great way to learn more about the city's history. bobbysbikehike.com

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise Aboard Chicago's First Lady cruises, these colorful 90-minute history lessons—covering more than 50 buildings—depart daily, April through November. (312) 922-3432; architecture.org

Parks

Sure, these spaces provide a little breathing room in a major metropolitan city, but they also offer a bounty of activities.

Millennium Park (pictured) Concerts, gardens, sculpture and free events draw people to this 24.5-acre corner of Grant Park. A free downloadable tour tells how and why Millennium Park was built, the secrets beneath the park, and the reasons Millennium Park is one of the world's most spectacular public spaces. millenniumpark.org

Grant Park Chicago's front yard, Grant Park is among the city's loveliest and most prominent parks. Three world-class museums—the Art Institute, the Field Museum of Natural History and Shedd Aquarium—call it home. Check out the Buckingham Fountain, one of the world's largest fountains, with 20-minute water shows on the hour 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Also in the park: trails for walking, jogging, and biking; a skate park; a dog-friendly area; baseball fields; tennis courts; and more. chicagoparkdistrict.com

Oak Street Beach This stretch of Lake Michigan shore offers a carpet of white sand against a backdrop of skyscrapers. cpdbeaches.com

Art

World-class collections abound, but the up-and-coming are here, too.

Art Institute of Chicago The Modern Wing opened in 2009 to showcase 20th- and 21st-century. Older galleries have been renovated, making it easier to see the collections, which span 5,000 years and include some of the world's major works of art, including American Gothic. Free admission for Illinois residents every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Pictured. artinstituteofchicago.org

National Museum of Mexican Art A collection of more than 6,000 objects, including textiles, folk art, photography, paintings and sculptures, tells the Hispanic story. Free admission. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Indie art galleries Featuring a wide range of art styles and media in different neighborhoods. You'll find a lot along North Michigan Avenue in River North. chicagogallerynews.com

60-Second Video: Chicago

Take a look at what makes Chicago one of the top vacation destinations in the Midwest. This video highlights some of the most talked about attractions, such as Millennium Park, The Field Museum, Macy’s on State Street, the Sky deck at Willis Tower, and Navy Pier.

Museums

Chicago has an incredible concentration of world-renowned cultural institutions. Even better, several are concentrated on the museum campus: the Field Museum (pictured), John G. Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium.

The Field Museum Basically it contains 4.6 billion years of history, including the 67-million-year-old T. rex Sue, under one roof. fieldmuseum.org

Architecture

The fact that there is a whole class of architecture called the Chicago School indicates just how important this city is in the world of architecture. You can see prime examples of Art Deco, neoclassical, Prairie, Gothic, Queen Anne and others.

Chicago Architecture Foundation Explore modern skyscrapers, historic downtown, Art Deco landmarks and more by foot, boat or bus. The most popular outing is the 90-minute river tour (pictured), which will help you discover the city's many architectural masterpieces. architecture.org

Willis Tower Visit the tallest building in North America, and then step outside on The Ledge on the 103rd floor. theskydeck.com

360 Chicago North America's fastest elevator whisks you to the 94th floor where you look out labeled window walls and use multimedia devices providing stories about the views. A cafe serves appetizers, drinks and coffee at 1,000 feet up. jhochicago.com

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Kids love playing with the boats and locks at water tables and checking out the critters. The highlight, though, is the Butterfly Haven. Free on Thursdays to Illinois residents. naturemuseum.org

Lincoln Park Zoo This North Side zoo often prompts visitors to marvel that it is free. A new nature boardwalk opened recently; the children's zoo and carousel are reliably entertaining. lpzoo.org

History

Home to Native Americans, military posts, fur traders and others through the years, Chicago opens America's history book in a tangible way.

Chicago Cultural Center This landmark building (pictured) is home to free events, including tours, dance, films and lectures. cityofchicago.org

Old Chicago Water Tower District The Old Water Tower and the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station are two of only seven buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Both were built in the castellated-Gothic Revival style. cityofchicago.org

Chicago History Museum Start here in your study of Chicago history, both as an urban center and as part of the United States. chicagohistory.org

Comments (1)

I really enjoyed reading this, I love Chicago and am building the home of my dreams in Deerfield its an Emerald Home and I cannot wait, my Fiance is from the west coast and he will love knowing how much there is to do here, also your photography is STUNNING!